5 ways in which Denver Nuggets could cover for Jamal Murray in the 2021-22 NBA season

#3 Aaron Gordon must step up his offensive game

Aaron Gordon (#50) of the Denver Nuggets dunks the ball.

Aaron Gordon was traded to the Denver Nuggets from the Orlando Magic on the March 25th deadline for the 2020-21 NBA season. At the time, he had averages of 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He had a 43% field-goal percentage and a career-high 37% 3P field-goal percentage.

After arriving in Denver, the team went 7-0 in Gordon's first seven games. But Jamal Murray went down in Gordon's ninth game with the Nuggets. The team kept their composure and went 19-6 in Gordon's 25 regular-season games at Denver.

However, Gordon's offense took a nosedive, as he averaged 10.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. While he made 50% of his shots with Denver in the regular season, he only averaged 8.2 field-goal attempts as opposed to 11.7 with the Orlando Magic.

Obviously, arriving at a new, better team was always going to impact some of Gordon's numbers. But he'll need to find more offensive opportunities next year. He averaged 11 points per game with 43/39/64 shooting splits in the NBA Playoffs, but his energy looked a little down, especially in defense.

Now, after signing a four-year, $92-million extension with the Denver Nuggets, Gordon will need to step up every area of his game in the 2021-22 NBA season.

#2 Nikola Jokic needs another NBA MVP-caliber season

Nikola Jokic (#15) of the Denver Nuggets scores.

This might be the most straightforward and reliable of all these points, but also the most important for the Denver Nuggets in the 2021-22 NBA season. Nikola Jokic will need to have a brilliant, all-around campaign in the 2021-22 NBA regular season for the Denver Nuggets to be competitive in Murray's absence.

Last year, the Serbian won the NBA MVP award after playing each of the team's 72 regular-season matches. He averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game with 56/38/86 shooting splits, guiding the team to a 47-25 record and the third seed in the West.

Many expect him to fall off the NBA MVP discussion next year, as he's eighth on the Vegas Insider odds for next season's award. Nevertheless, Nikola Jokic could win another NBA MVP award if he takes the Denver Nuggets near the top spots in the regular season.

#1 Michael Porter Jr. will need to deliver for the Denver Nuggets

Michael Porter Jr. (#1) of the Denver Nuggets puts up a shot.

Even if Nikola Jokic has another NBA MVP-type season, the biggest key for the Denver Nuggets without Jamal Murray will be Michael Porter Jr.

His defense still has to improve a lot, but Porter Jr.'s offense seems to evolve at a faster rate. In what was only his second season in the NBA. Porter gave the Nuggets 19 points and 7.3 rebounds per game with 54/44/79 shooting splits in the regular season.

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In 23 games without Murray, Porter averaged 22.8 points and seven rebounds per game with 54/44/85 shooting splits last year in the regular season. The Nuggets will need Porter Jr. to better these numbers next season to have a chance to remain a top competitor in the West.